[41], 19. Pomona, the Italian divinity of the fruits of trees, especially of apple-orchards. She is usually represented as a Hamadryad, young, and beloved of many rustic gods. Her worship was very important in Rome. Cf. Ovid, Metamorphoses, XIV, 623; Varro, De Lingua Latina, VII, 45.
[42], 5. quinto, the fifth of the six commandments or precepts of the Church, "to contribute to the support of our pastors." See Butler's Catechism, lessons XX and XXI.
[42], 7. The diezmo (tithe) was at this time paid to the civil authority, and by it made over to the Church.
[43], 4. Licenciado: licentiate. Primarily the title given to the holders of the second academic degree; at the present time generally used in Spain, as here, to designate a lawyer.
[43], 12, sqq. "Thou hast said it," replied the latter, with the kindly severity of a saint, which they say he was indeed. "An excuse unasked (is) a manifest accusation. As is the man, so are his words. But enough has been said, let there be no further speech."
[44], 6. cordonazo de San Francisco, the autumn equinox, the autumn equinoctial; in the narrower sense, the four days preceding and the four days following St. Francis' day (October 4). It is originally a maritime expression.
[44], 16. torta sobada, a cake, perfectly solid, made of dough that has been very much kneaded.
[44], 17. pan de aceite is bread made of dough to which olive oil has been added, giving a peculiar and much esteemed taste, when the bread is fried. Or it may be used as here, of the dough.
[45], tit. XIII. Le dijo el grajo al cuervo: The pot said to the kettle. The full form of the proverb is: le dijo el grajo al cuervo: quítate allá que tiznas; and the Spanish has also the other sayings, nearer our own in form: dijo la sartén a la caldera, tírate allá, culinegra, and dijo la sartén al cazo, quítate allá, que me tiznas.
[45], 24. pelar la pava, to pluck the turkey-hen, is to stand at night under the window of the beloved, and so to make love. In Andalusia it is often called also comer hierro, from the bars that protect almost all windows there. Cf. R. Ford, op. cit., ed. 1845, pp. 153-154, for admirably witty remarks.